Locking device



J. B. O'CON NOR LOCKING DEVICE Feb. 25, .1941.

Original Filed Deo- 12, 1936 ,W n am 0. B, .mf www 4 lll/Il ATTORNEY Patented F eb. 25, 1941 PATENT OFFICE LOCKING DEVICE .lohn B. O-Connor, Aurora, 111., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Griginal application December 12, 1936, Serial No. 115,595. Divided and this application July 28,

, 1938, vSerial No. 221,72

,8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a locker, and more particularly to a locking or latching construction for controlling a locker door.

The present invention more specically comprehends the provision of a locker latching structure of the type wherein opposed spring pressed latch members resiliently engage a keeper upon opposite sides to lock the door in closed position. The present type of latch is important since, in the rst place, the latching action is uniform,

` and furthermore, since the latch of ythis type is relatively secure against `unauthorized release or tampering. For example, if an instrument is inserted in some manner to release one latch, the door may not be opened since the opposed latch will'remain in engagement with the keeper. Unless extremely exact manufacturing methods are to be employed, however, it will be understood `that the proper relative positioning of the latches and the keeper cannot be maintained under ordinary circumstances, with the result that the parts will not at all times properly interengage.

Itis, accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a` self-centering double latching member which is adapted at all times to adjust the position of the latches within limits in order to properly engage the keeper in a predetermined relationship.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved one-piece unit comprising an opposed pair of latches which may be formed of an integral piece of material by simple forming methods.V

A further object of the present invention is to 35 provide a novel latching unit which may be formed of sheet material and comprising a pair of opposed latch members, `,as above, the structure being relatively` simple and being capable vof being mounted adjacent the edge of a locker door in a relatively small space provided by a molding of conventional size and formation.

Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a locker latching structure of the above character, having the latching unit 45 pivotally mounted and the keeper engaging portions of the latches so formed as to adjust the unit about its pivot into a predetermined operative position.

Numerous other objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

' The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention, and the views ,thereof are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a locker con- 1 structed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional Viewtaken on the line -22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sec line 3 3 in Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is a view the same as Fig. 3, but showing the latches shifted `from keeper engaging position; 10 Fig. 5 is a View taken on the line 5--5 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a View the same as Fig. 5, but showing the parts during the instant the door is moved to closed position, with the latches initially en- 15 gaging the keeper.

Referring more particularly to thedrawing wherein the present invention is disclosed more in detail, Fig. 1 shows a general View of a locker I0, embodying the principlesof the present 20 invention. The locker has the usual top, side and rear walls and a front opening, dened in part by the vertically extending angle members I2 and I4. The opening or doorway is closed by a door I6, hinged to the angle member I2, as .25 at I8. The angle member I4, forming the opposite door jamb, is provided with a pair of lugs `20 which extend forwardly into the space occupied by the door in closed position. `As will appear hereinafter more in detail, the lugs 20 30 are adapted to be engaged by latching means 22 mounted on shiftable control means 24 for selectivelylatching and unlatching the locker door in accordance with the will of the operator.

tional View taken on the 5 The lugs 2B have a portion of generally U- or 35 channel-shaped section when viewed from above, as indicated inFigs. 5 and 6, one of the arms of the U-shaped portion terminating in a transversely projecting ange 26, which is welded or 40 otherwise secured to the inner surface of the forward Wall of the angle member I4. The other forwardly extending side arm 28 of each lug 20 is recessed, as at 30 (Fig. 2), to provide a keeper portion or latch engaging portion.

Attention is directed to the fact that a buffer 32, of rubber or similar material, is supported in the U-shaped portion of theV keeper lugs 2li,y as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each buffer being held in position by a suitable adhesive or by projecting portions interengaging with apertures (not shown) in the lug. As will hereinafter appear more in detail, the buffers 32 are so arranged as to be contacted by the edge portions of the door when this latter element is'moved to 55 closed position to absorb the impact thereof and properly position the door.

The locker door I6 in the present embodiment is made of sheet material which, along the free side edge thereof, is turned inwardly to form a longitudinally inwardly extending flange 34. At a point substantially spaced from the outer surface of the door this flange is again turned inwardly to provide a flange 36 parallel with the plane of the outer surface of the door, but spaced therefrom. In the enclosure thus formedl is mounted a channel member 38 which is shown in the figures of the drawings and extends longitudinally of the edge of the door with the base portion of the channel section occupying the otherwise open side of the recess and the sides of the channel section bearing against the inner faces of the door and the parallel flange 36. The channel member or control bar 38 is secured in place with respect to the door by means of projecting deformed portions 40 in the flange 36 which engage in suitable slots 42. Thus the instant structure, while providing a substantially complete tubular closure adjacent the margin of the door, provides a bar or channel member 38 which is adapted for vertical movement with respect to the door, which movement is limited by the predetermined longitudinal dimension of the slots 42.

In accordance with the present invention any equivalent means may be employed to constrain the channel member for controlled slidable movement adjacent the margin of the door.

It will be apparent from the above disclosure that the channel member will be maintained by the force of gravity in its lowermost position with respect to the door. Means is provided for manually shifting the control bar 38 to relatively elevated positions, and comprises a control handle 43 congurated with manually engageable portions and having a pair of rearwardly extending flanges or projections 44. It will be noted that the handle 43 is mounted on the front face of the door I8, the projecting portions 44 extending through elongated slots or apertures 46 in the door and being rigidly secured to the channel member or control bar 38 by means of rivets 48. (See Figs. 2, 5 and 6.) A door handle 58 surmounts the control handle 42 and is rigidly mounted on the door I 6 through the agency of a lug 52 and a machine screw 54.

It will be apparent from the above disclosure that the control handle may be manually engaged to lift the handle and accordingly the control bar 38 upwardly for disengaging the latching mechanism, as will hereinafter appear more in detail, at which time the door may be opened by drawing upon the metal 58. A lug or projection 56, integral with the lower portion of the control handle 43, passes through a corresponding slot in the lower portion of the door handle 58 and is provided with an aperture 58 for accommodating a suitable padlock or any other conventional locking device (not shown) When such a locking device is engaged with the aperture 58 the control handle 43 will be retained in the lowermost position.

Attention is further directed to the fact that the elongated slots or apertures 46 accommodating the rearwardly projecting lugs 44 on the control handle are enclosed interiorly of the locker by means of the angle member 6D. The angle member is of relatively elongated construction and accordingly forms an enclosure with the corner provided by the channel member 38 and the inner surface of the locker door, which is of sufficient extent to reside opposite the slotted apertures 46, regardless of any normally adjusted position of the control bar. The angle member 60 is, moreover, secured in the position shown through the agency of a flange portion 62, confgurated as shown in Fig. 2, and fastened to the base portion of the channel member 38 through the agency of fastening means 64.

The rearward door ange 36, as viewed in the gures, as well as the adjacent wall of the control bar of the channel member 38, are apertured as at 66 and 68, respectively, to permit entry of the keeper and portions of the lugs 28 into the enclosure formed adjacent the margin of the door to permit engagement by the latching units 22, so that the keeper may enter freely at all times. Attention is directed to the fact that the aperture 68 in the channel member is of relatively considerable extent. Accordingly, when the door is in closed position the latch engaging portions of the lug are positioned interiorly of this enclosure.

The latch members of the present embodiment are constructed from a single piece of relatively resilient sheet material bent to the configuration shown in Figs. 2 to 6. It will be noted that this conguration comprises a pair of generally vertically extending elongated arms l0, provided at their lower edges with the inwardly extending latch fingers l2. The arms l at their upper ends are reversely bent to form the downwardly extending inner arms` 14, which latter arms are joined at their lower ends by means of the central loop 16. Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the loop 16 provides a bearing portion engaging a pivot pin 18 extending between the opposed sides of the channel member 38 and xedly mounted therein. Thus each of the latching units 22 is pivotally mounted upon the control bar 38 about an axis extending generally parallel to the keeper when the door is in normal closed position, and the latch is accordingly permitted limited adjustable movement about the pivot 18 within the marginal enclosure on the edge of the door.

In order to assure predetermined relative engagement of the latch fingers 12 with the keeper, the rearward edges of the fingers are oppositely inclined as at 88. As will be seen from a consideration of Figs. 5 and 6, the inclined edges 80 are those edges initially contacting the forward edge of the keeper member 28.

It will be apparent from the aforementioned detailed disclosure that with the door in the position shown in. Fig. 1, the control handle 43 and the control bar 38 will normally be in their relatively lowermost position. Assuming that under these circumstances the door is actuated inwardly to close the doorway, the projecting keeper portions 28 of the lug members 28 will freely enter through the apertures 68 and 68 in the enclosure on the margin. of the door. Immediately the entering edge of the projecting keeper 28 will come into engagement with the latching fingers 12 initially contacting the rearward inclined edges 88 thereof. Since these edges positively engage the keeper, in view of the fact that they have the same relative character and formation, the entire latching unit will be rotated slightly about the pivot 18, if necessary, until the inclined surfaces 88 exert equal opposed components of force transversely to the plane of the keeper. In this manner the latching unit automatically adjusts itself in a predetermined manner with respect to the keeper and when the latch fingers have reached a position oppositely to the recess 30 they spring thereinto to retain the door in latched condition.

The steps to open the locker doo-r are as follows: They operator 'manually engages the control handle 24, lifting it, the control bar 38, and accordingly the latching unit upwardly until the latching unit is in the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the latching fingers 12 are retracted from the recess 30 and reside above the level of the keeper. With the parts in this position, the latching elements are disengaged and the door may be freely swung open.

The present in-vention provides a simple, effective latching structure, useful in lockers and occupying only a relatively small space in the marginal configuration of the door. The vlatching unit is completely enclosed to protect it and is self-adjustable, while at the same time being resistant to unauthorized tampering by thieves.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a latching unit which may be mounted on the door of a locker, and according to the broad aspect thereof, may be released by any suitable latch releasing means controllable by the authorized user. l

'I'his application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 115,595, led December 12, 1936.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious than; numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacricing any ofits attendant advantages, the forms herein described being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters. Patent is as follows:

1. A lfatching unit for a locker comprising a continuous piece of elongated material having a pair of generally parallel. and coextensive arms resiliently separable, and latch means mounted on each said arms and oppositely extending for engaging a keeper therebetween, said latch members having their side surfaces on one side of the plane of said arms formed with oppositely inclined portions for impinging a laterally projecting keeper directed therebetween, said elongated material being congurated with journal means for engaging a pivot adapted to pass laterally through said plane and to mount the latch unit for movement about the journal as an axis, whereby to permit the latching members to initially aline with the keeper.

2. A latching unit for a locker comprising a supporting means, and a pair of resilient portions extending away from said supporting means in generally the same direction to a point spaced substantially from said pivot, reversely extending arms carried b-y said portions at said point,

said reversely extending arms extending past said supporting means in substantially the opposite direction to said first named portions and projecting to a point a substantial distance therebeyond and supporting oppositely extending latch means thereon at said last named point.

3. In a latching device for a locker or the like, latch means comprising a plurality of latches joined as a unit and adapted to engage a single keeper, pivot supporting means mounting said latch unit for unitary movement about the pivot as an axis, said latches being free to swing on said pivot in the same angular direction with respect tol the pivot when initially contacting the keeper, whereby to permit initial alinement of the latches and keeper.

4. In a latching device for a locker or the like, latch means comprising al plurality of opposed, spring-pressed latches joined as a unit and adapted to engage a single keeper means, pivotmeans supporting said latches, said pivot means pivotally engaging the latch means and permitting the plurality of latches to swing on said pivot in the same angular direction with respect to the pivot to center the same with respect to the keeper means, saidlatches being free to initially swing about the pivot for alining the latches and keeper upon initial impingement.

5. In a latching device for a locker having a door and a doorway, a latching unit mounted adjacent'the margin of the door and comprising a pair of opposed latches joined as a unit and adapted to engage a keeper projecting forwardly from the doorway and passing intermediate of said latches when the door is closed, and pivotal mounting means for the latching unit, said pivot means pivotally supporting the latching unit with respect to the door and permitting the latches to center with respect to the keeper in predetermined relationship,` said latches being free to swing about the pivot in the same angular direction to initially aline the latches and keeper.

6. For a locker having a door and. a doorway, a latching unit adapted to be mounted on the door comprising a pair of resilient members extending generally parallel to the plane ofthe door and operatively mounting opposed latches extending laterally in said plane, and pivotal mounting means for said latching unit,` said pivot means pivotally supporting the latching unit with respect to the door and permitting the latches to center with respect to a keeper in predetermined relationship, said latches having inclinedl keeper engaging surfaces onone side adapted to engage the keeper for adjusting the position of both the latches with respect to the keeper when contacted thereby, said latches being free to swing about the pivot as a unit to initially align the latches with the keeper.

'7. For a locker having a door and doorway, a latching unit mounted on the door adjacent an edge thereof and having vertically extending spring `arms with oppositely extending latch members mounted thereon and extending substantially laterally for engaging a keeper passing intermediate of the latches and pivotal mounting means for the latching unit pivotally disposing said latch members as a unit for arcuate movement about the pivot as an said latch members being free to swing about the pivot to initially align the latch members with the keeper,

8. A latching unit for a locker, a pivot operatively mounting said latching unit for movement in an arcuate path, said latching unit comprising a pair of resilient portions extending outwardly from said pivot in generally the saine direction, to a point spaced substantially from said pivot, reversely extending resilient arms carried by Said portions at said point, said arms extending past said pivot in substantially the opposite direction to said first named portions and projecting to a point a substantial distance there-beyond, and oppositely projecting latch means operatively JoHNvB. ofcoNNoR. 

